WAR PAINT BLOG.
Your introductory guide to the world of men’s skincare
Should you be using vegan makeup?
Veganism is on the rise. This is happening for a whole load of reasons including growing knowledge about health concerns, climate change, and of course, animal wellbeing.
But did you know that veganism isn’t only about diet? It’s a lifestyle. Most vegans will avoid products like makeup and household items as well as clothes that have animal by-products in them.
This change in people’s lifestyles is also taking the makeup and skincare industry by storm. According to The Vegan Society, vegan grooming products tripled between 2013-2018.
WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH VEGAN-FRIENDLY COSMETICS?
We’re not here to preach that you need to eat a vegan diet or live the perfect eco-friendly sustainable lifestyle. We’re only human and people can do what they feel comfortable with.
But in our opinion, there’s not really any need to use products that aren’t vegan or cruelty-free when the options that are available are really bloody excellent. There's no need to use animal hair makeup brushes when the synthetic vegan makeup brushes are even nicer.
Even the most effective ingredients which we once only derived from animals now have vegan alternatives which do the job the same, or better. So why not choose the vegan option?
WHAT MAKES MAKEUP VEGAN?
But what makes a product vegan or not vegan? To be a vegan product, it needs to be made up of completely plant-based ingredients. This means nothing has come from an animal or any animal by-products.
Did you know that’s not the same as being cruelty-free? Vegan and cruelty-free have different meanings. Being cruelty-free means that the product and its ingredients have never been tested on animals.
Some brands may claim to be cruelty-free but use animal-based ingredients. Equally, some brands may be vegan but still test on animals. There are a surprising number of makeup and skincare brands in the world that still test their products on animals. In China, it’s the law to test products on animals before they can be sold to the public. To get around this issue, some companies will pay others to test the products on animals on their behalf so that the brand can still personally claim to be cruelty-free. Sneaky.
This means that they may be cruelty-free in the UK, but the brand, or company that owns the brand, may not be. If you’re trying to live a cruelty-free lifestyle, it’s your choice as to whether you still buy these brands.
HOW TO IDENTIFY VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP BRANDS
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you need to meticulously Google every ingredient on your packaging. Most brands make it simple by having the words ‘vegan and cruelty-free’ printed on their products, or you can look for reputable logos such as PETA or the Vegan Society.
To be able to use these logos, brands have to go through a rigorous process to prove their products align with them. It’s good to note that Leaping Bunny, Cruelty-Free International, and Choose Cruelty-Free only certify brands that don’t test on animals, but they don’t necessarily have to be vegan.
Some common non-vegan ingredients you can look out for are:
Lanolin: This is derived from sheep's wool which is often found in balms, sticks and glosses.
Oleic acid (also known as oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate or tallow): Made from animal fat, it’s used as a softening agent in some makeup and moisturisers.
Beeswax (also known as cera alba): Used to keep the oil and water in products from separating. Alternatives exist from plant and soya waxes.
Just to add to the confusion, some ingredients like Squalane and Glycerine can be derived from plants or animals, but as the ingredient has the same name either way, it’s impossible to tell from the packaging. The best thing to do if you’re not sure is to look further into the brand and see what their position is on cruelty-free and vegan products.
Shop Like You Give A Damn has a helpful list of non-vegan ingredients you can follow, and you can read more about vegan ingredients on Plantbasednews.org.
WHAT IS THE BEST VEGAN MAKEUP ON THE MARKET?
When selecting the brand and products you want to use, it's about what suits your skin best and which brand you align yourself with.
WHERE TO GET A VEGAN MAKEUP SET
Well, as it so happens, all War Paint makeup products are both vegan and cruelty free. Huzzah.
You can shop our vegan makeup right here on our website. Browse our vegan and cruelty-free makeup, or our skincare.
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War Paint opens worlds-first men's makeup store: welcome to 29 Carnaby street
We're excited to announce the opening of the world’s first men’s makeup brand store, located on London's iconic Carnaby Street.
The world-first store, open now, sells the full range of War Paint for Men products, and offers men the chance to learn about makeup options and trial products.
Our founding principle is to offer men more personal care choice, and through looking and feeling better, improve confidence.
Our founder, Danny Gray, is also a passionate supporter of men's mental health, a theme that features strongly in the store. This has led to a collaboration with The Lions Barber Collective, a group of not-for-profit top-flight barbers, trained in mental health support to help prevent male suicide. The War Paint store is their first permanent home and by paying for a haircut, customers will be helping to save lives.
Danny said: “I’m so proud and excited to be opening the world's first men’s makeup brand store in London. For me it was so important that this wasn’t just about opening a shop to sell products, it was about creating somewhere for people to have an experience. I wanted to create a relaxed, inviting place to help men feel comfortable to have a conversation and learn more about makeup, get a haircut or even talk about mental health. Everything we’re trying to do as a brand is about normalising men using products and tools to help them feel more confident and our store is here to do just that.”
The opening represents another milestone in the story of our brand. War Paint for Men has continued to exceed expectations with products now sold into more than 80 countries. And exciting retail accounts including the first men’s makeup counter in a retail store at John Lewis, as well distribution in Harvey Nichols, REISS and MR Porter in the UK, Sephora in Australia, Loft in Japan and Arnotts in Ireland, bringing men’s make up into new territory.
Pivotal sports partnerships have also been established with Norwich City FC, and in Rugby League with Wigan Warriors where Danny and War Paint are not only leading the conversation on men’s makeup but also raising awareness for men's mental health through multiple partnership initiatives.
Technological firsts are also a feature of the store, and will help men discover the products best suited to them individually. One is ‘Ask Danny’, an interactive virtual Q&A. Consumers can ask a screen, displaying Danny sitting in a chair, any question about War Paint or men’s make-up. High-tech programming and pre-recorded responses will allow Danny to answer any consumer question. Another technological feature will be ‘Designed by Me’, an innovative service that creates bespoke Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser made precisely for your skin tone and skin type in-store while you wait.
Find more information about the store on our website, and watch exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of the store on our YouTube channel.
We've Partnered With The World's Greatest Rugby League Club... Sorry NRL Fans.
We are proud to announce our partnership with Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club for 2021 Season.
The partnership aims to put the spotlight on men’s mental health and start important conversations in the Rugby League
Today we are excited to announce our partnership with Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club for the 2021 season. Whilst the association will see War Paint featured on the first-team training and warm-up kits, the true value of the partnership lies off the field, with both parties mutual commitment to progress men’s mental health, challenge stereotypes, start conversations and break down the boundaries that can confine men.
As a brand, our aim is to offer men the choice to look and feel better with a founding principle to improve male confidence and offer more choice in their personal care. Wigan Warriors are located in a region that has one of the UK’s highest male suicide rates, something that both War Paint and the team are committed to fight against. During the season, fans can expect some never before seen initiatives to help people suffering from mental health issues, raise awareness and inspire positive conversations around men’s mental health and wellbeing.
Speaking about the partnership, founder Daniel Gray said, “I was inspired to create War Paint due to my own mental health struggles and I couldn’t be more proud to see that our brand growth can result in working alongside Wigan Warriors to help us address the issue. I can’t wait to unveil some of the groundbreaking initiatives we have planned to help people with mental health issues and raise awareness amongst the Rugby League community”.
Watch the announcement video on YouTube.
About War Paint
War Paint is a brand that is fuelled by a desire to help men feel good and provide them with the confidence to be themselves. Men wearing makeup shouldn’t carry a stigma. Rather, it should offer the potential to empower. War Paint challenges masculine stereotypes and gives men a choice. au.warpaintformen.com
About Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is a professional rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The club competes in the Betfred Super League and are the most successful club in English Rugby League with a decorated history. Founded in 1872, Wigan were a founder member of the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895 and have gone on to win 22 English Championships (including five Super League Grand Finals), 19 Challenge Cups and four World Club Challenges. They've won more trophies than any other side.
Social Media
War Paint: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Wigan Warriors: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
Simple men's grooming guide
Looking after our appearance isn’t always top of the priority list. Especially when work, socialising, kids and life get in the way. But every so often it’s good to take stock and see where improvements can be made. A few simple changes can make a lot of difference to how you come across, and how you feel about yourself.
Here are a few simple things you can do to spruce up your look.
Get a haircut
When we haven’t had a haircut in a while it’s all too easy to think your hair looks fine how it is. Getting a fresh trim is something quick and simple that will help you to look more refined and groomed immediately. Even if you’re sporting long hair, getting it trimmed or shaped will help you to feel like a million dollars. Plus, you’ll be supporting local business. Win-win.
Groom your facial hair
When we’re busy our facial hair can go awry, and before you know it it’s looking a bit caveman-esque. If you look after your facial hair at home rather than getting it tamed at the barbers, you can take steps to make sure your beard and brows are looking on point.
Fill in any gaps with the Beard & Brow Filler, and ensure your hairs are smoothed down and pointing in the same direction using the Beard and Brow Gel. You’ll immediately look more put together.
Prepare your skin
If you look after your skin, you will notice a difference. You’ll help to prevent signs of skin ageing, and any makeup products you apply afterwards will go on much smoother, and last longer. Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. There are two main products you can use at a starting point:
- Use a gentle cleanser morning and night. A cleanser designed for your skin type will be best (e.g. blemish-prone, oily, dry, normal).
- Moisturise with SPF in the morning. Protecting our skin from the sun is the best way to look 40 when you’re 50. Even if it’s cloudy outside or you’re not leaving the house - if you can read without a lamp on, you need to wear SPF as the sun’s rays will find you.
Add the finishing touches
You can add makeup into your routine to help you look fresher, more awake and cover any blemishes or scars. The best order to use products is listed below, but you don’t have to follow all the steps if you prefer to keep your grooming regime simple.
- Prepare your skin with primer. Apply a small amount all over your face to help the makeup applied afterwards to be smoother and last longer.
- Conceal blemishes and dark circles. Using a concealer or liquid concealer pen, you can help cover any uneven marks on the skin. Tap the product onto the skin using your finger or a sponge.
- Even out skin tone with foundation or tinted moisturiser. You can apply this all over your face using your fingers, a sponge, or a brush. Take care to make it look natural by checking it hasn’t sunk into fine lines around your eyes or nose and checking along your jawline that it blends into your neck seamlessly.
- You can add a subtle warmth to your skin with a bronzer (to make it look like we haven’t spent most of the past year inside). Apply it with a powder brush to areas where the sun would naturally hit your face, usually around the top of the forehead and cheekbones. To keep it looking natural, don’t go too heavy on the bronzer.
- If you get oily or shiny skin, apply a small amount of anti-shine powder to the desired areas (usually the nose, forehead and chin) using a powder brush.
How to look good on Zoom
Whether we love it or hate, we’ve all been forced to use way more video calling platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams almost daily. If you ever catch yourself thinking, “do I really look like that?” there are a few simple things you can do to help improve your appearance over Zoom.
Find your light
Lighting is crucial to look your best on a video call. If it’s possible in the space you have, face a window with natural light coming through it. A window is going to highlight your face evenly. If you need to take a Zoom call when it’s dark, you can mimic a window by placing a lamp behind your computer so that your face remains evenly illuminated.
If you have your back to the window, your camera will find it difficult to calibrate the difference between the bright light and the details in your face, resulting in a dull and grainy picture. If you’re side-on to the window, the light will move across your face in a way that makes everyone look 20 years older.
Sort out the camera angle
Most phones and webcams have a wide-angle lens - meaning the closer you get to it, the more distorted you’ll look. To get the most flattering angle of your face, step back from the camera slightly and try to have it at eye level, pointing directly at you.
If the camera is below your face, the people on the other end will get a great shot of your nostrils. And if it’s above, it can give off Big Brother vibes.
Check what you’re wearing
Muted or pastel colours could wash you out, and sadly black can appear more as a blob than anything else. Wearing plain clothes that aren’t too patterned or busy will show up best on camera.
Fuel your flawless skin
Bright light and bad cameras can, unfortunately, highlight imperfections on our skin. If you want to cover any dark circles, blemishes or scars, using concealer is a great way to do this. Put a small amount on the desired area and lightly tap it onto the skin using your finger or a sponge.
When your skin colour looks even, you’ll look younger, healthier and more awake. Apply a small amount of tinted moisturiser all over your face to help even your skin tone and give your skin a subtle warmth.
If you find your skin looks oily or shiny on camera, try using transparent anti-shine powder to reduce the glare. Don’t forget to keep up with your skincare routine. Self-care for your skin can help you feel and look Zoom ready.
Check your video settings
Zoom has a handy feature to help you touch up your appearance. To change your settings, start a new meeting and click on the small arrow next to the camera icon. From here, click ‘video settings’. A new window will open up where you have the option to touch up your appearance and blur imperfections.
